* Michael Kolenc, the campaign manager for the Yes for Independent Maps group, sent out a fundraising e-mail this morning…

We’re just leaving the courthouse in downtown Chicago. It’s been a wild week…before we even delivered 533,000 signatures to Springfield, political leaders sued to push independent redistricting off the ballot.

Their politically motivated lawsuit seeks to silence the voices of Democrats, Republicans and Independents across this state. We’ve come too far to let that happen. Please contribute so we have the resources to defend ourselves, and give Illinois the chance to put the voters back in charge.

* I asked him what, if anything, went down…

Our petition to intervene was granted by the judge, meaning that the Yes campaign can defend the constitutionality of our amendment in court.

We also set a schedule. Oral arguments will be on June 18th at 2 pm.

The AG’s office was there. They have not decided what role they are going to play and have until May 20th to decide, even though there is precedent that they not be involved in dealing with . Not to mention the conflict of interest.

* And he added a brief counter-argument against part of the challenge to the constitutionality of the measure. Everyone who serves on the remap commission would be barred from running for state and judicial office for ten years, which the plaintiffs insist goes well beyond the Constitution’s strict limit on what can be in a citizens’ amendment…

Service on the commission is voluntary, and a person can simply choose not to serve on the commission. Imposing qualifications and restrictions of this nature on the commission – which is established under Article 4 of the Constitution – is within the scope of subjects that may be addressed through this referendum process.

=== Banning someone from seeking political office for ten years seems a little over the top. ===

First look had me agreeing with this. However, the more you think about it, we are talking about grown-ups who are capable of making their own decisions. If they want to run for office within the next few years, then don’t apply for the position.

==If they want to run for office within the next few years, then don’t apply for the position.==

I’m not sure where I will be in 8 years. It’s a long time. Think freshman year of high school to senior in college and how much life changes for us then, even if you don’t complete either or never experience higher education. The idea that a decade long ban is necessary is a major stretch to me.

Using a shortest split-line algorithm is a fair, unbiased, and amazingly simple way to draw districts. No human involvement whatsoever. Basically you draw that splits an area in half and keep doing it until you get enough districts. Full explanation here:http://rangevoting.org/GerryExamples.html